Kate OstrowskiThe UMB CURE Scholars Program formally welcomed its sixth cohort of STEM-minded sixth-graders in its White Coat Ceremony on Oct. 10, 2020, bringing the total to 138 scholars in the program, which is funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) and was the first to support middle school students.
The White Coat Ceremony has been a treasured moment for scholars and families alike, and this year was no exception. Participating virtually, the CURE Scholars were “coated” by their beaming family members.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted regular CURE programming in March 2020. Knowing that the pandemic would affect scholars and their families and communities disproportionately, the CURE team sprang into action, creating an emergency support fund, organizing contact-free delivery of 47 Chromebooks and $7,000 worth of groceries to CURE families in need, and setting up wide-ranging weekly check-ins with each scholar.
Meanwhile, CURE’s talented curriculum staff worked diligently to pivot all summer and fall programming to an entirely virtual platform to still deliver top-notch STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) educational experiences. None of this would have been possible without the support of generous individual donors and corporate and foundation partners.
During the virtual event, UMB CURE executive director Gia Grier McGinnis, DrPH, MS, noted that the White Coat Ceremony marked a key milestone for the program.
“As CURE celebrates its fifth anniversary, we are engaging with the scholars in an ever-changing world,” Grier McGinnis said. “We see this ceremony as a turning point in the program where we will build upon the tremendous work of years before and look ahead to how we have to evolve to navigate the program’s growth and societal changes happening around it.”
To celebrate the milestone and with an eye to the future, program leaders introduced the next steps of this educational pipeline: the UMB CURE College Readiness Curriculum and the Career Navigator Program. The College Readiness Curriculum is launching with generous matching funding from the Edward St. John Foundation, and the Career Navigator program is supported in part by the Jack and Jill of America Foundation.
For more than 20 years, the Edward St. John Foundation has supported over 350 organizations to further education in Baltimore and the greater Maryland region. As part of its continued commitment to transform lives and build a framework for success through access to quality education, the foundation pledged $375,000 in matching funds to support the CURE Scholars Program’s growth over a six-year period. Contributions to the College Readiness Curriculum will be matched dollar for dollar as an incentive to encourage increased support for the student scholars and growth in the program.
The Edward St. John Foundation said it is proud to partner with an organization so focused on encouraging STEM education in Baltimore youth, and it looks forward to seeing where these bright young women and men take their educational and professional journeys.
“Students are provided tremendous experiential learning opportunities through collaboration with the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Lawrence Maykrantz, MBA, chairman of the foundation’s Board of Trustees and president of St. John Properties. “They learn about various health care and research careers with educational support and mentoring by renowned medical and scientific leaders. We are proud to support this transformational program and look forward to the successful achievements of the student scholars.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Researchers
This investment enables the launch of the College Readiness Curriculum, a program structured to set up 11th- and 12th-grade scholars for collegiate success through academic support, SAT preparation, paid internships, the development of market-ready laboratory skills, the continuation of advanced STEM programming, and mentorship through Career Navigators.
This is the second year of UMB CURE funding from the Jack and Jill of America Foundation, whose mission is to “address issues facing African American children and families by investing in programs and services that create a strong foundation for children to thrive long-term.”
The foundation’s support this year is focused on the Career Navigator program, which will aid the scholars in developing soft skills, acquiring internships and apprenticeships, connecting with STEM professionals working in their area of interest, submitting college applications, and navigating financial aid forms. The foundation’s past support has provided funding for PSAT/SAT preparation, summer programming, the CURE Parent Organization, and community events, reinforcing the program’s commitment to the whole family.
This last leg of the educational pipeline is a representation of how committed the mentors, educators, and program leaders are to the CURE Scholars. The UMB community is thankful for all of its involved and generous CURE benefactors and looks forward to continuing these partnerships to ensure a bright future for our scholars.
Please consider a donation to support the UMB CURE Scholars Sustaining Fund or the CURE Scholars Emergency Support Fund.
